Simple repair is sufficient for most injuries to the duodenum - a case series of 23 patients

Background: Duodenal injury is the most important hollow viscus injury in the abdomen. The study analysed the outcome of duodenal injuries at the unit. Patients & Methods: Prospectively collected data on a case series involving 23 patients over 3 years. It involved demographic details, part of duodenum injured, injury severity according to the AAST, injury-operation time lag, mode of repair, and the extent of significant associated injuries. Results: M:F ratio was 4.75:1. Mean age 33yrs. Patients with non-perforating injury were excluded. All were operated by a senior registrar or senior. 7/23 were blunt, 13/23 firearm & 3/23 stab injuries. D2 was involved in 87%. Injury severity was graded according to AAST (American Association for Surgery of Trauma). 17/23 were Grade II/III, 3 Grade IV & 3 Grade V injuries. Four had injury-operation lag of >18hrs. Two injuries were missed. All injuries up to Grade IV had simple repair. Two of them had T-tube duodenostomy. None had pyloric exclusion. Complex repairs wer e required for 3/23 patients. Five patients died, as a result of associated insults. One delayed repair developed duodenal fistula. Intra-abdominal abscess, septicaemia and wound dehiscence were seen in two patients each. Duodenum-related mortality was zero. Adverse prognostic factors towards morbidity were injury severity >GIII and injury-operation lag >18hrs. The mortality was related to associated injuries. Conclusion: Primary repair is sufficient for most non-resectional duodenal injuries.